High capacity weaving machine



New. 16, 1937.

. RPROSSM ANN 2,099,627 HIGH CAPACITY WEAVING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1934 W t Z n. w z

Nov. 16, 1937. R. ROSSMANN 2,099,627 I HIGH- CAPACITY WEAVING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 16, 1937. ROSSMANN 2,099,627

HIGH CAPACITY WEAVING MACHINE Filed July" 19, .1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 0,932. 2 azzzz .1 Zia/2260.

HIGH CAPACITY WEAVING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 v Jzzzlezzi r Nov. 16, 1937. R. ROSSMANN 2,099,627

HIGH CAPACITY WEAVING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jzlveni'ar [flarnev R. ROSSMANN HIGH CAPACITY WEAVING MACHINE Nov. 16, 1937.

Filed July 19, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 16,1937. R. ROSS'MANN 2,099,627

HIGH CAPACITY WEAVING MAfiiHINE Patented Nov. 1 6, 1937 I a j UNITED STATES.

2,099,021 menv CAPACITY WEAVING moms Rudolf Gauting, near Munich, Gerassignor to Tefag Textil-Flnanl A.-G.,

7 many, Zurich, Switlerland Application July 19, 1934, Serial No. 736,117 7 In Hungary July 20, 1933 32 Claims. '(Cl. 139-125) This invention relates to a loom of high efficiency which constitutes an improvement, compared with existing types, with respect to the number of picks per minute and the possibility 5 of using it for various kinds and sizes of fabrics. The development of the power loom with a view to increasing its output has hitherto been' frus existing looms employing gripping shuttles and selectors and which is capable of increased output, produces a perfect fabric and affords maximum protection to the yarn. According to the invention, the weft thread is inserted in the shed always in the same direction and in a path independent from the movement of the slay by I 5 circulating gripping shuttles and is held on both sides until beaten up against the edge of the cloth, while the empty gripping shuttles are'returned to picking position outside the shed. It is, therefore, possible to employ a larger number of shuttles of the same type during the operation, and, for this purpose, the weft thread can be caught at both ends by special means disposed on the fabric edge after the shuttle has traversed the shed. These holding means prefer- 35 ably move forward together with the reed when the weft is beaten up and-release the weft'thread ends only after the blowof the slay when the weft thread has been secured. In this way, regular and rapid insertion and uniform beat- 40 ing up of the weft thread are ensured. The gripv ping shuttle used is preferably fitted with a thread gripper or clamp which can be controlled from without by a member getting into engage-' 'ment therewith, preferably on one long side of the shuttle. I

The jacket of the gripping shuttle consists preferably of a projectile-like steel body pointed at one end and having .a gripper at the rear end.

It is an object of this invention to provide a power loom having gripping shuttles and in which the path for the shuttles isindependent from the motion of the slay and in which the shuttles are thrown through the shed formed while the slay stands still in the rear dead center.- For while the slay is moving so that the shuttle, by 5 its own inertiaand the motive forces ofthe slay, is pressed against the reed and guided thereon. When the shuttle is picked while the slay stands still, the relative speed of the shuttle and thus the working speed can be increased.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a power loom in which theboxes between which the shuttle moves are arranged stationarily on the loom. Hitherto they were disposed on the slay and cooperated in the reciprocating movement thereof. The stationary arrangement of the shuttle boxes affords the advantage that the slay can bemade much lighter and thus permit of a much more rapid motion, since it carries only the reed and not the shuttle boxes with all the shuttle driving and braking members and a larger or smaller number of shuttles. By combining a long stop of the slay in the dead center opposite the stationary shuttle boxes with a-small and, therefore, rapidly moving gripping shuttle, a high eificiency loom is produced with which the usual output is exceeded by far. A particularly rapid motion of the shuttles can be attained by accelerating them by means of a crank mechanism kept continually in motion and carrying out a working stroke after a few idle motions.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a power loom having, in addition to means insuring great acceleration of the shuttle, braking means which brake the shuttle gradually or apply a stepwise increasing braking force, for example, by a number of braking elements operating independently from one an other.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a power loom in which the shuttle box serving for catching and braking the gripping shuttle is arranged displaceably in the direction of the pick, so that it can be, pushed close up to the fabric'edge whatever the width of the cloth may be. In this way, unnecessarily long, free weft thread ends are avoided, and the loom can be better adapted to changed operating conditions.

Another object of this invention isthe provision of a power loom having an especial thread giving memberfor taking over the weft thread from the stationary bobbin to the shuttles, said member delivering the thread very quickly, al-

most instantly, yet reliably to the gripping shuttle which, for this purpose, is fitted on one side with a thread gripper while the thread giver also has a. gripper disposed in staggered relation to the shuttle gripper. The gripper of the thread giver delivers the weft thread to the gripping shuttle prior to each picking and releases the weft thread during the winding off.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a power loom in which the free ends of the inserted weft thread held by special holding means are inserted, after beating up and after the formation of the new shed, into the latter either by the holding means themselves or by special means such as grippers or hooked needles. Thus, a uniform and very firm edge is produced since the weft threads are doubled therein. The character of the fabric can, therefore, be determined as desired by holding the weft thread ends until the blow of the slay takes place, while the edge is formed afterward.

In view of the high picking speed, it is advisable to effect the motion of the shafts also by novel means. Hitherto, the shafts were constructed in the form of extended beams or carriers extending over the whole length of the loom which, of course, involved a relatively great weight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a power loom having a shaft drive the shafts of which are supported and moved from below by a plurality of members arranged in a row, while their control preferably takes place from the side of the machine. The free carrying length of the individual shafts is thus considerably reduced so that the shafts themselves can be made much lighter, while the larger number of driving members insures reliable and precise shaft motion.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a power loom in which thread breakages and, especially, breakages of the warp threads are reduced to a minimum. The warp threads are known to be considerably effected by each heating up, owing to the friction of the heald eyes, and will often break at weak points. This danger can be reduced by causing the warp threads to move slightly to and fro within the eyes during beating up. Examinations of the edge of woven fabric have shown that the to-and-fro motion of the warp threads is due solely to their elasticity.

An object of this invention is to provide a power loom in which the to-and-fro motion of the warp threads and the danger of thread breakage connected therewith is reduced by decreasing the free stretching length of the warp thread and of the fabric exposed to the mechanical action of the slay. For this purpose, two special carrier rollers areprovided, one of which is located above the warp beam and constructed as a thread braking roller, whereas the other replaces the breast beam and serves as a take-up roller. The speed of these rollers is such that the natural shrinkage due to the insertion of the weft threads is compensated and the adjusted or desired tension of the warp obtained. The free length of the warp can th'iis be reduced to a fraction of what it used to be and, thereby, also the elastic swinging and rubbing of the warp threads on the heald eyes.

In existing looms, fabrics are often damaged after the weaving process by so-called temples or spreaders fitted with non-independently moving wheels, the frictional resistance of which causes the damage to the fabrics. At high loom speed, the damage can be very troublesome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a power loom having a spreader system capable of withstanding high speeds, comprising special grippers located on the edges of the fabrics and provided with clamping jaws that can move vertically to the path of the web above and below the latter, the jaws being fitted with holding means such as teeth, pawls and the like for draw.-

ing the fabric outward in both directions without interfering with the taking-up.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new loom in which the various parts, in so far as they have to do with weft insertion and fabric formation, are suitably arranged on a single central carrier extending transversely through the machine. This central carrier insures precise and thorough fastening of these parts which formerly used to be disposed, as a rule, somewhat loosely between the two loom frames and, in addition, affords a considerable economic advantage in assembling the loom as all parts required for weft insertion and fabric formation can be firmly mounted on the central carrier in the shop and need not be put on on the spot, which involves a large saving.

Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and shown in the drawings which, by way of illustration, show what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of the machine with the left-hand side thereof, whence the picking takes place, partly shown in section or opened.

Fig. 2 is a view of the machine from the front and right, i. e., from the catching side, and showing the driving members.

Fig. 3 shows, by means of an isometric diagrammatic drawing, more particularly the slay drive, the circulation of the shuttle, the means for changing the position of the shuttle box, the mechanisms associated with the shuttle boxes and a modified construction of the reed.

Fig. 4 is an isometric diagrammatic showing of a loom according to my invention with several parts broken away and particularly illustrating the operation of the shafting and the operating mechanism of the heald frames.

Fig. 5 is an isometric diagrammatic showing of the shuttle and the thread giving member according to my invention in the position just before the weft thread is taken over by the shuttle.

Fig. 6 is an isometric diagrammatic showing of the shuttle and the thread giving member according to my invention in the position in which the weft thread is taken over by the shuttle.

Fig. 7 is an isometric diagrammatic showing of the shuttle and the thread giving member according to my invention in the position after the weft thread has been taken over by the shuttle, the shuttle being already on its way across the loom.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic isometric showing of the mechanism for picking the shuttle.

Fig. 9 is an isometric diagrammatic showing of the mechanism for operating the shuttle and the thread holder in combination with a loom having the type of reed shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of one form of a braking device for the shuttle.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show how the thread ends are bent into the shed to produce an edge, Fig.

' constitutes. guide for the shuttle.

from below, and Fig. 1a the drawn-in thread end.

Fig. 15 shows an arrangement of the carrier rollers for warp and fabric.

In all figures, like parts are designated by like numerals.

Referring more particularly to the' drawingsz' Figs. 1 and 2 show a loom in which the two side frames and 2 are connected by the central carrier 8 on which the bearings 4 are supported. I is the main driving shaft, 6 denotes the slay arms or swords, I the slay, and 8 thereed secured thereto which, in Figs. 1 and 2, is shown as having a hooked configuration in order to Behind the bearings 4, the driving mechanisms 8 for the shafts III are secured-to the carrier 3, and, on the left side, the casing II for the picking means for throwing the shuttle, while to the right there is the casing |2 for the catching means for catching and brakingthe shuttle. The casings II and I2 contain also the members required for control. The upper side of the casings II and I2 is preferably flat and provided with an upstanding rim so as to form a tray on which the operator may place tools etc. I3 is the driving motor for the shuttle drive and I4 the casing of the dobby. 18 is the casing for a central lubricating apparatus.

n the right-hand side, there is the casing II for the feed mechanism comprising the feeding members for the two carrier rollers, for the warp l6 and the fabric II. The carrier roller l8 for the fabric I1 is here shown in the form of a tube and partly visible in section. The carrier roller IQ for the warp is supported by a shaft I9 on the rear side of the loom. 28 is the beam on which. the fabric is wound up.

In Fig. 2, there are further visible to, the right the driving members, namely, the clutch 2| on the main shaft 5, the driving motor 22 and the speed changing gear 23, while to the left the edge forming apparatus 24 can be seen.

The warp threads are rolled up on the warp beam 25 and pass therefrom over the warp carrying roller I8. The production of the fabric takes place by causing the weft thread coming from one or more bobbins not shown to be thrown 1 by gripping shuttles transversely to the warp;

threads from the picking meansin casing through the tunnel-shaped reed 8 intothe catching member within casing l2, whence the shutties are returned to the casing II and caused to take up the weft thread. The finished fabric rolls over'roller 8 and is finally wound up on the beam 20.

In Figs. 2 and 4, the mechanism for starting up and stopping the loom is illustrated. When starting the loom, the motor 22 is first started. By means of belt 14, this motor drives the variable gear 23 and therefrom, by means of belt 14', the driving'member of the clutch 2| which serves, at the same time, 'as a fly wheel. order to move the driven member 15 onto the driving member and to produce engagement of the clutch, the starting and stopping rod 60 extending across the whole width of the loom and being easily accessible for the operator must first be pushed to the left. Rod 60 takes bell Fig. 14 is an isometric diagrammatic showing,

crank 6| with it to which it is rotatably connected by bolt 18. The end of one arm of hell crank BI is provided with aroller 11 which abuts against the flap 18 projecting from the side frame 2. To the end of the other arm 84 of bell crank 6|, connecting rod 68 carrying operating rod 68' is linked'which is pulled upward against the tension of spring 18 (see Fig. 4) whenever the bolt 18 is carried to the left within the slot 16 upon movement of rod 88 to the left. As can be seen in Fig. 4 rod v88' carries a tooth 88 cooperating with a finger, 8| which is swingably mounted within the box 84. Tooth II in cooperation with finger 8 I. locks the rod 88' in its upper position. To rod 88 brake lever 88 is connected by means of link 55. In the upper position of rod 88, lever 58 loosens the brake band 82 and releases it from the brake disc 88 which is associated with the driven part of clutch 2 I. The upper side of arm 84 of hell crank 8| has a notch 85 which cooperates with finger 86 of the lever 62. This lever operates the shaft 81 which, upon a clockwise movement of lever 82, pushes, by means of cam 208, the driven part I of the clutch 2| on to the driving part of the clutch and engages the clutch. In order to engage the clutch, the rod 50 must first be pushed to the left until finger 8| engages tooth 88;

arm 84 thereby moves sufficiently far upward 86 upon a movement of rod 60 to the right. The latter movement must be carried out against the. tension of spring 89. Main shaft5 is connected to driven part of the clutch 2|, and the loom operates as long as rod 60 is maintained in the position furthest to the right. This position may be maintained by a coupling not shown which may be engaged by a slight turn of the starting rod 60. V

Should there be any irregularity in the operation of the loom, for example, a broken weft or warp thread, this may be detected by a feeler not shown in the drawings, because it is described in my corresponding application Ser. No. 672,389 which matured into Patent No. 2,051,902. This feeler operates an electric switch closing an elec-- trlc circuit of which the solenoid coil 88 is a part. Finger 8| is linked to the core of this solenoid coil and is turned counter-clockwise when this coil is energized. Finger 8| is thereby pulled out of engagement with tooth 80, and rods 88' and 68 are pulled downward by the action of spring 19. With rod 68, the arm 84 is also pulled downward, and notch 85 snaps out of engagement with finger. 86 which, under the influence of spring 89, moves counter-clockwise taking shaft 81 with it and disengaging the driven part 15 from the driving part of coupling 2| so that no power can be transmitted to the loom. In order to stop the loom immediately, brake 82- 88 is provided, the brake band 82 being applied by the downward movement of rods 68' and 88 whereby lever 86 pulls brake. band 82 onto brake drum 83. It is obviousthat, for the operation described, the power of spring 19 must be greater than that of spring 89, and it is further obvious that the machine cannot be started again as long as the solenoid is energized, i. e. as long as nothing is done to put an end to the irregularity. As long as solenoid 88 is energized, movement of the starting rod 60 to the left is possible, but, upon 'movement to the right, bellcrank 84 will always go all the way down again and have no chance to engage the finger 86 of lever 82.

to permit'engagement of the notch and finger Fig. 3 shows a mechanism more particularly described in my copending application Ser. No. 673,227 which matured into Patent No. 2,039,454 which causes the slay to stay in the rear dead center during the entire motion of the shuttle and also shows how the circulation of the shuttle takes vplace. Parts of the loom are broken away to make the vital parts of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 3 more clearly visible. The slay 1 is secured to the bent two-arm levers or swords 6 of which there are several; they are turned about the shafts 26 by means of the cams 21 secured to the main shaft 5 and. rotating inuniform manner. The reed 8 is mounted on the slay 1 and forms the rear path for the shuttle 90. In

Fig. 3, the reed is arranged in a plane; as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, it can be constructed so as to afford a closed race for the shuttle. The shuttles 90 circulate from the picking side at the left to the catching side at the right and are returned below the fabric by means of a conveying device comprising a band conveyor 28 moving on two rolls 29, the one on the left side heing visible on Fig. 3. From the conveyor band 28, the shuttles pass first to the plunger 30 in the chamber 3| of the casing II and are then guided upward into the picking position in the direction of the arrow, whence they are thrown into the shed and caught by the catching mechanism at the right end of the loom, whence they are brought by means not shown on to the conveyor band 28 and returned to the picking position. A large number of shuttles are always circulating. The catching mechanism is riding on and can be displaced on rails 32 on the loom frame in order to be brought close to the edge of the fabric. This feature is one of the subjects of my copending application Ser. No. 673,226 which matured into Pat. No. 2,030,270.

Fig. 4 more particularly shows the shafting and the operating mechanism of the heald frames. With the latter, my copending application Ser. No. 673,224 which matured into Patent No. 2,069,330 deals in particular. The main shaft 5 operates, by means of the transmission chain 205, an auxiliary shaft 9| and, by means of a gear I13, a transmission shaft 92 on which the conveyor rollers 29 are mounted. The latter shaft rotates, by means of another gear I14, a vertical shaft 93, the purpose of which will be described later. The transverse shaft 92 operates, by means of another chain drive 94, the cam shaft 95. The latter carries a plurality of earns 98 which cooperate with rollers 91 'attached to the levers 98 which are fulcrumed to the stationary casing I4 at 99. The free end of the levers 98 engages a notch I00 in the longitudinal bars IOI which are oscillatingly operated upon a swinging movement of the levers 98 brought about by the rotation of the cam shaft 95. One crank of the bell crank levers I02, of which there 'is aplurality arranged across the loom at equal intervals, engages a notch open at the top of bars IOI, while the other arm of the bell cranks carries the actuating rods I03 which carry the rigid longitudinal bearers I04. The latter support the lightly built lieald frames I05. These frames and the operating mechanism therefor are more particularly described in my moved by the m drive in a manner to be described later. The position. occupied by the thread gripper after the entrance of the wedge is shown on Fig. 5.

The shuttle itself is more particularly described in my copending application Ser. No. 729,760.

Fig. 6 shows the ripper in closed position, i. e., after taking over the weft thread 31. The two end positions of the ripper are limited by the rivet 38 and by correspondingly shaped parts 39 of the gripper. After the gripper has been urged out of its internal position as indicated in Fig. 5, it will open by inherent spring power and release the thread 31. The control of the gripper 34 being effected by an engagement transverse to the axis of the shuttle has the advantage that the point of the shuttle or the surface. thereof may be completely smooth and free of projecting portions which could damage the warp threads passing through the shed.

Fig. 7 shows the transfer of the weft thread from the feeding member to the shuttle prior to picking. The shuttle 90 carries the thread gripper 34 which is disposed coaxially but rotated by 90 with respect to the thread gripper of the thread giver or feed member consisting of a feed body 53 to which the two clamping jaws 52 and 54 are secured. The control of the clamping jaws and the operation of the thread feeding member can be better understood from Fig. 3 if viewed together with Figs. 5-7. The shuttle coming from the right end of the loom with clamp 34 -projecting and open and riding on conveyor 28 is taken over by plunger 30. As soon as the shuttle rests on the latter, as shown in Fig. 3, plunger 30 is moved upward by means of the cranked lever '55 which is rotatably supported by the casing II by means of pin I06. One arm of lever 55 carries at its end a roller I01 engaging a cam I08 which is keyed to the auxiliary shaft 9I. Plunger 30 moves so far upward that the shuttle is pressed against the upper wall of the chamber 3I and thus held in position. Now the thread giver holding the weft thread 31 in its claws 52-54, as shown in Fig. 5, guided by groove I16 is moved on a straight path towards the rear end of the shuttle by means of finger I15 slidingly projecting from the arm I09 of bell crank I09-'-IIO. This bell crank is rotatably carried by the pin III mounted to casing II and is oscillated by a groove II2 cooperating with roller II3 attached to the end of arm H0. The groove II 2 is part of a disc mounted to the vertical shaft 93. The closed jaws 52 and 54 enter in between the open jaws 34 of the shuttle clamp. Then the thread giver body 53 abuts against the clamp 34, pushes it inside the shuttle 90, whereby the clamp 34 is closed. This is due to the spreading configuration of the resiliently opened jawsof clamp 34 which slidingly abut against the. inner sides of the cavity within the shuttle and are thereby forced toward each other. The jaws of clamp 34, upon closing, engage the weft thread 31. This is now held by the clamp of the shuttle as well as of the thread giver. Now

the jaws 52 and 54 of the thread giver clamp must be opened which is done in the following manner: an opening extends through the thread giver body '53 and accommodates a butterfly lever I I4 swinging around a pin I I5 which is mounted .to the thread giver body. At its upper end, the

aoaacav butterfly lever has an extensionIIB extendin! through a slot in the upper jaw member 52. This extension can be engaged by an arm II1 of a bell crank lever lI1-II8 which is similar to bell crank lever IIi9-I l and is operated from a groove in a disc H3 which is also. mounted to the vertical shaft 33. Both levers I03-I I0 and II1-I I0 are close together; they are spread apart on Fig. 3 in order to make the showing clearer. Upon movement of lever -I I1 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the right to the position shown in Fig. 7. it engages the extension I I6 and turns'the butterfly lever clockwise, thereby spreading the Jaws 52 and 54 "apart. The thread 31 is now free from clamps 62 and, and so is the shuttle 90 which is ready for the pick.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a shuttle driving mechanism which is a modification of the mechanism disclosed in my U. S. Patent No.-1,945,996 consisting of a rapidly rotating crank gear having a crank 40, aconnecting rod 4| and a sliding member 42 which moves to and fro between two dead centers on a slide rod 43. The gear is operated by a motor I3. The sliding member 42 carries an engageable and disengageable paw 44 which can be controlled, for example, by'the driver in the rear dead center position. The driver 45 is engaged prior to picking by control means shown in Fig. 9. I a

A cam I20 is keyed to the main shaft 5 and engages one end of the double lever I21, the other end of which reciprocatingly moves the control rod up and down. By the-spring I22, see Fig. 8, the paw 44 is normally held in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. In this position, the paw can not engage the shuttle which lies on the upper surface of plunger 30. However, when the rod 45 is-in its uppermost position as shown in Fig; 9, the outer end I23 of the paw abuts against the rod, and the paw is turned clockwise against the power of the coil spring I22 wherfbeing pushed to the left by the crank gear. After passing dead center, the crank gear pulls the paw to the right, and the projection I24, see Fig. 8, abuts against the rear surface of the shuttle 90 and pushes it to the right. The cam I08 on Fig. 3 operating the lever for moving the plunger 30 is of such configuration that they plunger moves somewhat downward at the moment paw 44 engages the shuttle, so that the shuttle is not pressed any more against the upper side-of chamber 3| and is entirely free to be pushed oil? the plunger 30.

Fig. 8 shows the position of the paw for idling, several idling motions being carried out by the crank gear prior to the picking of a shuttle, and the gear being simultaneously somewhat accelerated thereby. Owing to the accelerating pressure due to the inertia of the shuttle, the shuttle 90 is then firmly pressed against the paw 44 and is accelerated, together with the sliding member 42. Approximately in the middle between the two dead centers, the sliding member has reached its maximum speed and is then retarded up' to the dead center on the right. During this time, the shuttle 90 detaches itself fromthe paw 44 and passes ahead of the sliding member 42 out of the chamber 3| and through the shed. By spring I22, the paw 44 is brought into the position of rest shown in Fig. 8, while the sliding member 42 again carries out an idle motion.

Fig. 10 shows a type of shuttle brake capable of an increasing brake power. This in itself is subject matter of my copending application Ser, No,

673,810 which matured into Patent No. 2,057,114. The catch member 41 associated with the casing I2, shown in Fig. 1, contains a ledge 48 to which a number ,of braking laminae 49 are attached. The ledge- 48 is connected by the toggles 50 with the catch member 41; By means of the draw bar ii, the toggles can be brought out of the erected position into the collapsed position shown by dotted lines, whereby the brake power can be reduced until the brake is fully released. The incoming shuttle 21 is caught first by the first lamina or spring 49' and pressed by it against the opposite interior wall 46 of the catch member casing 41. It is then exposed to the pressure of the following springs, whereby the brake power is increased each time until the shuttle comes to a stop, at the latest, on reaching the last spring lamina. By acting by degrees as shown, the brake is capable of stopping the shuttle always at the same point and of rendering it insensitive to different speeds of passing in. This new type of shuttle brake exerting an increasing brake power upon the shuttle which increases the further the latter moves into the brake is more particularly shown in my copending application Ser. No. 673,810 which matured into Patent No.

2,057,114. That part of the interior of the catch member 41 which is hit by the point of the shuttle, if the applied braking power is insufficient to stop the shuttle at an earlier moment, is provided with an exchangeable buffer 15 made of felt, rubber or the like. At the moment the shuttle passes the shed and enters the catch member 41, the toggles 50 and the ledge 48 are in the position shown in Fig. 10, and the shuttle is definitely held by the spring laminae 49 forcing it against the interior surface 46 of the catch member 41. Now the wedge 36, shown in Figs. 3 and 5, is pushed into and withdrawn again from opening 35 by means of double lever I25 which is revolvably mounted to casing I2 by means of bolt I26. The lever is operated by a cam I21 which is mounted to the auxiliary shaft 9i. As described in connection with Figs. 5 to '7, the clamp 34 is moved out of the shuttle 90 and opened by the insertion of the wedge member 36, and the weft thread 31 is released. Member 36 is provided with projections 200 shown in Fig. 5 which abut against the shuttle, when the wedge is inserted, and push the shuttle downward. At the same time, the draw bar Si is pulled to the right by means ,of

lever I28 which is also revolvably mounted to casing I2 and operated by a curved groove I29 on the disc I3I mounted to shaft 9!. This groove cooperates with roller I30 mounted to one end of the double lever I20. The shuttle is now free to fall down on to the conveyor belt 28 which returns it, with the clamp 34 open, to the'left side of the loom and on to the plunger 30.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show how the end of the thread is brought forward on the edge of the fabric up to beating up and is worked into a woven edge.- The end of the weft thread 31 is first caught after picking by the gripper 33 which clamps it loosely. When the reed 8 moves forward for beating up, the gripper 33 does the same and holds the end of the thread. After beating up, the gripper 33 remains at first in front, while the reed 8 returns to its rear dead center position to let the next shuttle pass. As soon as theshed 61 has opened again, as indicated in Fig. 12, the hooked needle I32 disposed above the fabric and rotatably secured to a shaft I33 passes through the warp threads I6 and under the end of the return motion of the hooked needle I32, the hook I34 engages the end of the thread and draws it out of theigripper 33 into the shed in the direction indicatedfin Fig. 13. The end of the thread is then firnj'ly beaten up together with the next weft thread to produce a reinforced and durable edge for'ithe fabric. This selvedge forming mechanisrng itself is more particularly shown in my copendii g, application Ser. No. 672,390 which matured intofifaat. No. 2,034,487.

The mechanism for operating the gripper 33 synchronously with the reed 8 is illustrated in Fig. 9. A disc I35 is mounted to and revolved with auxiliary shaft 9i. The disc I35 has a curved groove I36 cooperating with roller I31 at oneend of cranked lever I38. This lever is revolvably mounted on casing II by the pin I39 and carries at its other end the finger I40 of gripper 33. Since shaft 9| is coupled to shaft 5 by a chain 90, the curve I36 can easily be arranged so that grippers 33 swing in the same way as the reed 8 which is operated by shaft 5. A finger MI is slidably mounted'to the lever I38 and has a pin I42 cooperating with a stationary guide member I43 which is fixed to casing II. On sliding over the guide I43, the pin I42 lifts the pin I4I upward and separates it from finger I 40, thereby releasing the weft thread. As soon as the pin I42 leaves the guide, the finger I4I snaps down under the infiuence of spring I44 and forces the thread on to finger I40, thereby holding the thread. The knife I68 shown in Fig. 3 operates synchronously with the grippers 33. This knife which might also be substituted by a pair of scissors is for the purpose of cutting the weft thread just at the moment when it is being gripped by the grippers 33. It is attached to a lever |1I pivoted by pivot I69 to one wall of the casing II and operated by the cam I10 attached to the shaft 9i. Since this cam is operated by the same shaft as is the curve I36 operating the grippers, it is obvious that, by a suitable configuration of cam I10 from which movement is transmitted by roller I12 to lever I, it can easily be accomplished that the knife I69 cuts the weft thread at the moment the thread is engaged by the grippers.

The mechanism for operating the hooked needle I32 is shown in Fig. 14. The needle is provided with a bell crank-shaped part swinging around the pin I33. A link I45 is revolvably connected at one end to one arm of the bell crank. The other end of link I45 is revolvably connected to lever I46 oscillating around the fulcrum I41 of which thereis one mounted on casing II and one on casing I2. Lever I46 has a roller I48 cooperating with a. groove in disc I49 mounted to and revolving with shaft 9i. The operation and swinging motion are obvious from Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 also shows a spreader provided with clamping jaws I50 and I5I ,movable perpendicularly with respect to the path of the fabric'and above and below the latter and fitted with teeth I52. The teeth are of such a shape as to offer no-resistance to the movement of the clamping jaws toward and over the fabric, while, upon movement'of the jaws from the fabric, 1. e., outward from the center of the loom, the teeth bite into the fabric. Upon an outward movement of the spreaders, the fabric is stretched with respect to its width, whereas, upon an inward movement of the spreaders, i. e., movement in the direction toward each other, the jaws glide over the fabric. The lower jaw I5I is mounted to its holder I53 in such a way that a horizontal swinging around a pivot I54 is possible, whereas an up-and-down movement can not take place. The horizontal swinging is limited by an abutment I55 on the holder I53 cooperating with abutment I56 on the jaw I5I. Abutment is assured by a spring I51. This arrangement permits the fabric to move forward to a limited extent when the jaws bite into it, thereby pulling the jaws which then rotate somewhat around the pivot I54. The upper jaw I50 is hinged to the lower jaw I5I by means of hinge I58. Upon an inward movement of the jaw holders, i. e., a movement toward each other, the upper jaw will move slightly upward according to the thickness of the fabric, on which it rests due to its weight, and will be pulled down again upon an outward movement of the jaw holders, due to the configuration of the teeth which then bite into the fabric.

The jaw holders are reciprocatingly operated by a lever I59 pivoted to the jaw holder I53 by pivot I60 and to the casing II by pivot I6I. It is swung by means of a roller I62 cooperating with a curved groove in disc I63 which is mounted to and rotated by the shaft 9 I. The latter operating synchronously with the main shaft assures that the movement of the jaws to-and-from the fabric is timedin correspondence with the other parts of the loom. The jaw holders move somewhat toward each other upon each beating operation of the reed 8. At that moment, the

fabric has its normal width, and the jaws can be opened. Upon the return of the reed to the rear, the jaw holders move outward, and the jaws automatically close on the fabric, thereby stretching the fabric to its normal width. Stretching jaws of the type described assure a definite width of the fabric and do not harm the material.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the loom particularly showing the drive of the warp and fabric carrying rollers. A variable gear mechanism I64, which is not shown in particular and which may be driven by the main motor 22 or an independent source of power, operates the chains I65 and I66 which drive the warp carrying roller I9 and the cloth carrying roller I8 at desired speed as required for maintaining the proper warp tension during weaving. The speed of the rollers I9 and I8 is such as to compensate for the natural shrinkage due to picking and to attain the de-.

sired tension of the warp. Dials 2M and 202, as shown on Fig. 2, may be provided on casing I2 to indicate the individual speeds. In a diagrammatic manner, Fig. 15 further shows the shafts I0, the swords 6, the cloth winding roller 20, and the warp beam 25.

The cloth winding roller 20 is driven by the cloth carrying roller I8 by means of a belt 63 which in order to provide for the increasing diameter of the roll 20 operates with a slight slip which can be adjusted by means of tension pulley I61 mounted on the adjustable lever 12 which is revolvably and adjustably mounted to frame I.

While I believe the above described embodiments of my invention to be preferred embodiments, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of process, design and construction shown and described, for

obvious modifications will occur .to a personport means for carrying and returning said shuttles from said receiving means to said ejecting,

nected with and adapted to operate said transport means independently from said ejecting means.

3.'In a high capacity machine for weaving having gripping shuttles, the combination of ejecting 'means adapted to eject said shuttles in one direction across the shed, receiving. means adapted to receive said shuttles, movable transport means located below the shed and adapt-ed to carrying and to return said shuttles from said receiving means to said ejecting means, and stationary operating means connected with and adapted to operate said transport means independently from said ejecting means.

4. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a driving mechanism for driving said machine, a stationary structure comprising two side parts and supporting said driving mechanism, shuttles, thread grippers associated with said shuttles, thread gripper opening means associated with one of said side parts and operatively connect-ed with and operated by said driving mechanism and adapted to engage said shuttles and thread grippers and to thereby open said grippers for releasing the thread, and a thread feeding and thread-gripper closing member associated with the other of said side parts and operatively connected with and operated by said driving mechanism and adapted to engage said thread grippers and to thereby close said grippers for holding the thread.

5. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a stationary structure supporting a driving mechanism, a source of power connected to and operating said driving mechanism, gripping shuttles, picking means supported by said structure and adapted to pick said shuttles across the shed, receiving means supported by said structure and adapted to receive said shuttles after the pick across the shed, said picking means comprising a'reciprocable member, engaging means movably connected with and oscillatable relatively to said member for engaging and picking said shuttles, and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said member, said last mentioned means comprising a source of power which is independent from said first mentioned source of means comprising .a source of' power which is independent from said first mentioned source of power, and control means for periodically engaging said engaging means, and connecting means operatively connecting said control means with said first mentioned driving mechanism for operating said control means.

7. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a shuttle, a cavity within said shuttle, a thread gripper slidingly accommodated within said cavity and adapted to be either completely hidden within said cavity or to partly protrude from said cavity and said shuttle, reciprocafingly operated thread feeding means, a thread clamp associated with said thread feeding means, said feeding means being adapted to engage said thread gripper protruding from said cavity and to push said thread gripper completely into said cavity upon a relative movement of said shuttle and said feeding means with respect to one another.

8. In a high capacity machine for weaving, an operating mechanism, a shuttle, a cavity within said shuttle extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of said shuttle, a thread gripper,

resiliently spreading jaws associated with said gripper, said gripper being slidingly accommodated within said cavity and adapted to be either hidden within said cavity, whereby the jaws are closed, or to partly protrude from said cavity and push said gripper into said cavity upon a relative movement of said shuttle and said feeding means with respect to each other and to thereby close the jaws associated with said gripper, said thread clamp with the jaw members closed and holding a weft thread protruding from said feeding means and passing throughsaid spreading jaws of said gripper, said jaws of said gripper closing upon the weft thread held by said jaw members upon such relative movement, and spreading means associated with said feeding means for spreading apart said resiliently closing jaw members, and operating means associated with said operating mechanism and adapted to abufitingly cooperate with said spreading means and to thereby open said jaw members after, the jaws associated with said shuttle gripper are closed and have taken over the weft thread from said feeding means.

9. In a high capacity machine for weaving, an operating mechanism, a shuttle, a' cavity within said shuttle extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of said shuttle, a thread gripper, resiliently spreading jaws associated with said 'gripper, said gripper being slidingly accommodated within said cavity and adapted to be either hidden within said cavity, whereby the jaws are closed, or to partly protrude from said cavity and said shuttle, whereby the jaws spreadingly open, thread feeding means adapted to engage said thread gripper when protruding from said cavity and to push said gripper. into said cavity upon a relative movement of said shuttle and said feeding means with respect to one another and to thereby close the. jaws associated with sad gripper, .and a lever associated with said operating mechanism and movably linked to said feeding means for moving said feeding means to and from said shuttle.

10. In a high capacity machine for weaving, astationary structure having two side parts, a

bers which are also connected to and operated by said source of power.

11. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a stationary structure having two side parts, a source of power, gripping shuttles having provisions at one end for gripping the weft thread and a point at the other end, a slay operatively connected to and operated by said source of power and moving forwards and backwards between said side parts, picking means associated with one of said side parts and being adapted to pick said shuttles across the shed and being operatively connected with and controlled by said source of power, receiving means connected to the other of said side parts and being adapted to receive said shuttles, said, receiving means comprising movable members which are also connected to and operated by said source, of power, and gripping means adjacent to the edges of the fabric and being also connected with said stationary structure and connected with and operated by said source of power and being adapted to hold the weft thread until it is beaten up.

12. Ina high capacity machine for weaving, means for driving said machine, a stationary structure comprising two side parts andsupporting said driving means, shuttles, thread grippers connected with said shuttles, thread feeding means connected with at least one of said side parts and with said driving means and being operated by said driving means and being adapted to engage said shuttles and thread grippers and to thereby adjust said grippers.

13. In a high capacity machine for weaving means for driving said machine, a stationary structure comprising two side parts supporting said driving means, shuttles, thread grippers connected with said shuttles, opening means connected with one of said side parts and operatively connected with and operated by said driving means and being adapted to periodically engage said shuttles and thread grippers and to thereby open said grippers for releasing the thread.

14. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a stationary structure, driving means mounted on said structure and being adapted to drive said machine, said means comprising driving shafts and a cam member on one of said shafts, shuttles, thread grippers connected with said shuttles, control means adapted to engage said shuttles and said thread grippers for adjusting said grippers, and a member movably connected to said stationary structure and to said control means and being adapted to engage said cam member, whereby said control means are operated by said driving means synchronously with said machine.

15. In a high capacity machine for weaving, driving means connected to and driving said machine, movable thread holders located adjacent to the fabric edge and connected with and op- I erated by said driving means and holding the weft thread after picking, a reed which is situated separate from said thread holders and which is also connected with and operated by said driving means yet separately from said thread holders, said driving means'comp'rising cam and lever means for moving said thread holders synchronously with and substantially in the same direction as said reed.

16. In a high capacity machine for weaving, driving means connected to and driving said machine, movable thread holders located adjacent to the fabric edge and connected with and operated by said driving means and holding the weft thread after picking, a reed which is situated separate from .said thread holders and which is also connected with and operated by said driving means yet separately from said thread holders, said driving means comprising cam and lever means for moving said thread holders synchronously with and substantially in the same direction as said reed, bending-in means situated separate from said reed and being adapted to turn the ends 'of the weft thread after beating-up into the following shed, said bending-in means also being connected with and operated by said driving means yet separately from said reed, whereby timed cooperation of said thread holders, said bending-in means, and said reed is assured.

1'7. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a stationary structure, driving means supported by said structure and being connected to and driving said machine, movable thread holders located adjacent to the fabric edge and connected with and operated by said driving means and holding the weft thread after picking, a. reed also connected with and operated by said driving means, said driving means comprising cam and lever means for moving said reed synchronously with and in the same direction as said thread holders, bending-in means adapted to turn the ends of the weft thread after beating-up into the following shed, said driving means comprising a driving shaft and cam means connected thereto, lever means movably connected with said stationary structure and said cam means and said bending-in means, whereby said bending-in means are swingably operated by said driving means, and timed cooperation of said bending-in means, said thread holders and said reed is assured.

-l8. In a high capacity machine for weaving, driving means connected to and driving said machine, a lay, movable thread holders located separate from said lay and adjacent to the fabric edge and being connected with and operated by said driving means and holding the weft thread after picking, cutting means adapted to cut the weft thread, said cutting means also being located separate from said lay and being connected with and operated by said driving means, whereby timed cooperation of said thread holders and said cutting means and independent operation of said thread holders and cutting means from said lay is assured.

19. In a high capacity machine for weaving, a stationary structure, driving means supported by said structure and being connected to and driving said machine, movable thread holders located adjacent to the fabric edge and connected with and operated by said driving means and holding. the weft thread after picking, cutting means adapted to out the weft thread, said driving means comprising cam means, and said cutting means comprising lever means movably connected with said stationary structure and with 

